WASHINGTON - Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) wants the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to help cities, such as Cleveland, go after out-of-state property firms that leave cities on the hook for millions of dollars to demolish abandoned and condemned houses.

Brown raised the issue Tuesday in a meeting with FHA commissioner nominee Carol Galante, who was nominated last month by President Obama.

"The city of Cleveland has been hit hard by the foreclosure crisis, and as this week's report in the Plain Dealer shows, some out-of-state companies are perfectly willing to exploit our city's crisis just to make a buck," Brown said.

"I raised this issue with Carol Galante today because I need to know that this is the kind of issue that she'll work to address should she be confirmed as the FHA commissioner," Brown added.